Iconic species - Brush-tailed rock-wallaby conservation program

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby may be an iconic species to many Australians, but in NSW it is also endangered. Saving our Species, a conservation project, aims to reverse the decline in population numbers by reducing pests and reintroducing captive-born animals to suitable habitats

Sporting a bushy tail and thick brown body fur, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby likes to live in rocky escarpments full of caves and ledges where it can bask in sun throughout the day. Numbers of brush-tailed rock-wallaby have dramatically declined after habitat loss. It once lived between south-east Queensland, Grampians in Victoria, and west as far as Warrumbungle Ranges.

A NSW recovery plan for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby was created in 2008. Following on from this, Saving our Species is a conservation program designed to ensure the rock-wallaby remains healthy and wild. Captive breeding is already underway in partner zoos and sanctuaries. The program aims to supplement this effort by reducing pest animals (foxes, cats, and goats), and monitoring wallaby populations to further our understanding of the threats it continues to face.